Steel Trappings

Festival News

HIMELE Festival Updates

February 11, 2023 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

Here is the latest news about HIMELE's Hawaiian steel guitar festivals.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 18, 2023

The performance schedule for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘ i is:

11:00 AMKapono Lopes
11:35 AMPono Fernandez
11:55 PMSteve Cheney
12:30 PMIsabella Bertelmann and Enosa Lyman
12:50 PMGreg Sardinha and Po‘okela
1:25 PMReign Lyu and Makamae Lyu-Napoleon
1:40 PMBobby Ingano
2:15 PMJoey Misailidis
2:30 PMAlan Akaka

Kona Steel Guitar Festival
March 23-25, 2023

Patti Maxine has withdrawn from the festival due to a medical issue. "She is still struggling after breaking her femur and is reluctantly cancelling her trip to Kona," says Alan Akaka, HIMELE Chairman of the Board.

Open Stage signups are ongoing, with many of the performance slots already reserved. If you plan to participate on the Open Stage, please submit your request right away! See the festival Contact Page to reserve your slot.

Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 14, 2023

Shinichi Kakiuchi has been instrumental in publicizing the 2nd Annual Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival to his Japan colleagues and several have already signed up to perform at the festival. This event showcases steel guitarists from Japan who specialize in performing Hawaiian music.

Steel guitarists who have indicated participation include Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi, Masami "Matt" Kobayashi, and Shuji and Noriko Tomita.

Steel guitarists from Japan who are interested in participating in the festival should contact Shinichi or send your request to contact@himele.org.

HSGF   KonaSGF   JHSGF
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HIMELE Events
2026 Festivals and Workshops
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island

2027 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
January 30, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 13, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST
Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i

NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
April 3, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 2, 2027 - 10:30 AM - 2:45 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 12, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 4-10, 2027
July 5, 6, 8, 2027 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

2nd Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest
July 7, 2027 – 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA 2027 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 9, 2027 – 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
August 14, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 16, 2027 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 11-14, 2027 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island (tentative)

Other Events
2026 Events
Steel Guitar Fridays
Every Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

2027 Events
AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 22-24, 2027
Winchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

Austin Steeel Guitar Fest #
September 30-October 2, 2027
Austin Marriott South, Austin, Texas

* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required

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About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i non-profit corporation that supports music enrichment and education for people of all ages. Our purpose is to educate, promote, and perpetuate Hawaiian music, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian musical instruments.